Slab anchor strap

ABSTRACT

A method for securing a sole plate to a slab, the method including securing an anchor strap to a form, the anchor strap having a first part and a second part opposed to the first part; a body, two bendable spaced-apart holding portions extending from the first part, the two holding portions and the body co-planar, a first part of each holding portion positioned at a level so that material poured into the form will be at substantially the same level as said the holding portions; pouring the material into the form to make the slab; allowing the material to harden; placing a member on the first parts of the holding portions; bending parts of each holding portion around the member so that the member is within the holding portions; and securing the member to the holding portions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to methods for connecting an item, e.g. a sole plate, board, or piece of wood, to a slab or foundation.

2. Description of Related Art

It is common practice to lay a piece of wood or board on top of a concrete foundation and then to toenail vertical wood stud members to the board. In those areas of the country subject to earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, flood, or tidal action which impose upward forces on the building structure it is standard practice to tie a structure to a concrete foundation. In one commonly used system, threaded bolts are inserted into the concrete, holes are made in a board or mudsill, the upstanding bolts are inserted through the holes and the board or mudsill is fastened to the bolts with threaded nuts and washers.

In other common systems, one piece sheet metal anchors or straps are embedded in concrete and the straps nailed to a board or mudsill.

In another prior art system threaded bolts are used anchored in a foundation and an angled holddown is attached to a bolt at a seat portion and an upper portion is either bolted or nailed to the inside face of a vertical board or wood stud.

In other prior art systems, a strap member is partially embedded in the concrete and then the strap is nailed or bolted to a piece of wood, e.g. to a board or vertical wood stud.

Holddowns of various construction for anchoring studs or posts of framed walls to concrete base have long been known in the art. Examples of such holddowns are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,199,908; 4,9924,648; and 4,995,206. These patents disclose holddowns that include an anchoring portion that is set in a concrete base and a pair of spaced, upstanding plates provided with a clearance to receive a wall post or studs. Screws, throughbolts, nails or other fasteners secure the studs or posts in position.

The prior art discloses a wide variety of anchor straps, holddowns and connectors; e.g., but not limited to those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,970,677; 5,595,031; 5,930,455; 5,375,384; 5,150,553; 5,092,097; 4,995,206; 4,974,381; 4,924,648; 4,570,403; 4,543,757; 4,530,194; 4,199,908; 4,068,426; 4,067,168; 3,750,360; 1,578,947; 1,172,126; and 887,217—all said patents incorporated fully herein for all purposes.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in certain embodiments, teaches methods for anchoring a member to a slab or foundation using an anchor strap with a body; two spaced-apart holding portions connected to or formed integrally of the body for holding a board or structural member; and, optionally, one or two spaced-apart arm members connected to or formed of the body for separation to facilitate anchoring in concrete. The holding portions are bendable to form an enclosure for a board or other structural member. Holes for nails, bolts, and/or screws can be provided in the holding members to connect a board, sole plate etc. to the strap.

Certain embodiments of this invention are not limited to any particular individual feature disclosed here, but include combinations of them distinguished from the prior art in their structures, functions, and/or results achieved. Features of the invention have been broadly described so that the detailed descriptions that follow may be better understood, and in order that the contributions of this invention to the arts may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional aspects of the invention described below and which may be included in the subject matter of the claims to this invention. Those skilled in the art who have the benefit of this invention, its teachings, and suggestions will appreciate that the conceptions of this disclosure may be used as a creative basis for designing other structures, methods and systems for carrying out and practicing the present invention. The claims of this invention are to be read to include any legally equivalent devices or methods which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What follows are some of, but not all, the objects of this invention. In addition to the specific objects stated below for at least certain preferred embodiments of the invention, there are other objects and purposes which will be readily apparent to one of skill in this art who has the benefit of this invention's teachings and disclosures. It is, therefore, an object of at least certain preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide:

New, useful, unique, efficient, non-obvious devices and methods for securing a sole plate (plates, sill, board) to a slab; and

Such systems and methods which employ an anchor strap according to the present invention.

The present invention recognizes and addresses the problems and needs in this area and provides a solution to those problems and a satisfactory meeting of those needs in its various possible embodiments and equivalents thereof. To one of skill in this art who has the benefits of this invention's realizations, teachings, disclosures, and suggestions, other purposes and advantages will be appreciated from the following description of certain preferred embodiments, given for the purpose of disclosure, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detail in these descriptions is not intended to thwart this patent's object to claim this invention no matter how others may later attempt to disguise it by variations in form, changes, or additions of further improvements.

The Abstract that is part hereof is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and scientists, engineers, researchers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent terms or legal terms of phraseology to determine quickly from a cursory inspection or review the nature and general area of the disclosure of this invention. The Abstract is neither intended to define the invention, which is done by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting of the scope of the invention in any way.

It will be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention may include one, some, or all of the disclosed, described, and/or enumerated improvements and/or technical advantages and/or elements in claims to this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

A more particular description of embodiments of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by references to the embodiments which are shown in the drawings which form a part of this specification. These drawings illustrate certain preferred embodiments and are not to be used to improperly limit the scope of the invention which may have other equally effective or equivalent embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a top view of an anchor strap according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the anchor strap of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the anchor strap of FIG. 1 in use.

FIG. 4 is a side view in cross-section of an anchor strap as in FIG. 1 in use.

FIG. 5A is a top view of an anchor strap according to the present invention.

FIG. 5B is a side view of the anchor strap of FIG. 5A in use.

Presently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the above-identified figures and described in detail below. It should be understood that the appended drawings and description herein are of preferred embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention or the appended claims. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In showing and describing the preferred embodiments, like or identical reference numerals are used to identify common or similar elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity and conciseness.

As used herein and throughout all the various portions (and headings) of this patent, the terms “invention”, “present invention” and variations thereof mean one or more embodiment, and are not intended to mean the claimed invention of any particular appended claim(s) or all of the appended claims. Accordingly, the subject or topic of each such reference is not automatically or necessarily part of, or required by, any particular claim(s) merely because of such reference.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an anchor strap 10 according to the present invention which has a body 12 with two spaced-apart initially co-planar holding portions 14 with a slot, space, opening, or cut 13 between them and two spaced-apart initially co-planar arms 16 with a slot, space, opening or cut 15 between them. Initially the arms 16 are also co-planar with the body 12 and with the holding portions 14. Only one arm may be used or at least one arm.

Holes 18 may be provided in the holding portions 14 as desired to accommodate nails, screws, bolts, staples, rivets, or fasteners used to secure a member (e.g. a board, sill, or sole plate) to the anchor strap 10. Holes 19 may be provided in the arms 16 as desired to facilitate securement of the anchor strap in a slab or foundation, e.g. with concrete hardened within the holes 19.

In certain aspects the anchor strap 10 is made of plastic, composite or metal. In one particular aspect, an anchor strap according to the present invention is made of a single piece of flat galvanized steel.

In certain particular aspects, see e.g. the anchor strap 10 a in FIG. 2 (which is like the anchor strap 10 and like numerals indicate like parts), according to the present invention has a small bend or inclined portion 22 which provides a stop for placing the anchor strap against a concrete form 24 and also results in a portion 28 of the anchor strap 10 being lower than a portion 26 of the anchor strap 10 when the anchor strap 10 is placed partially on a concrete form like the concrete form 24. This placement insures that the portion 28 will be at substantially the same height or only slightly lower than a level of concrete or other slab material poured into the form and that the portion of the anchor strap in a form will be correctly located and positioned. Since parts of the anchor strap are substantially level with or only slightly below the level of the top of the concrete form, trowel and/or a trowelling machine can work over the top of the entire slab with no (or almost no) hand trowelling required, producing a smooth slab in a relatively shorter time as compared to one with certain prior art anchor straps. Prior art trowels and trowelling are disclosed, e.g., in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,108,451; 6,976,805; 6,139,217; 5,406,671; 844,204; and 5,450,648.

The bend portion 22 is optional. An anchor strap according to the present invention, e.g. the anchor strap 10 a, FIG. 2, can be attached to the top of a concrete form before concrete is poured with nails, screws, tacks and/or adhesive tape (e.g. tape piece 29).

The arms 16 (or arm is only one is used) are bent away from the body 12 prior to pouring of concrete into the concrete form 24 and multiple arms may be bent at any desired angle to each other. In certain particular aspects this angle ranges between 80 degrees and 110 degrees and, in one particular aspect (e.g. see FIG. 4) is about 90 degrees.

As shown in FIG. 3, upon hardening of concrete into the slab 40, the holding portions 14 are bent into shape for closely accommodating a board or sole plate 50 with a contact fit so that nails (or other fasteners) may be inserted through the holes 18 to secure the plate 50 in place. The holding portions 14 include parts 14 a, 14 b, and 14 c. In use in FIG. 3, the parts 14 a are co-planar; the parts 14 b are parallel to each other; and the parts 14 c are substantially co-planar, so that the plate 50 is held in a tight fit within the holding portions 14 and so that the holding portions 14 conform to the shape of the plate 50. The anchor strap 10 a is initially positioned so that the plate 50 will be correctly positioned and, in one particular aspect, so that an outer side 52 of the plate 50 is co-planar with an outer side 42 of the slab 40. The holding portions' parts 14 a, 14 b are substantially level with a top surface 44 of the slab 40.

Dotted lines 11 in FIG. 2 show an alternative initial position for part of the anchor strap 10 a. This part is shown by dotted lines 13 in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 illustrates one version of the final use of an anchor strap 10 b (like the anchor straps 10 and 10 a, like numerals indicate like parts) which is initially located as indicated by the dotted lines 11 in FIG. 2 with respect to a removable form 25. The arms 16 of the anchor strap 10 b are separated at about a 90 degree angle and are embedded and encased in concrete of a slab 43. Holding portions 14 h and 14 k (like the holding portions 14) hold a sole plate 55. Nails 57 through the holding portions extending into the sole plate 55 secure the sole plate 55 to the anchor strap 10 b.

As shown in FIG. 4, it is within the scope of the present invention for ends 14 m, 14 p of the holding portions 14 h, 14 k respectively to touch; or, as shown in FIG. 3, for ends of holding portions to be separated by a space. Hardened concrete is in the holes 19 in FIG. 4. The holding portions 14 h, 14 k (as is true for any holding portions of any anchor strap according to the present invention) may be folded or bent into position around a board or sole plate placed on a flat part of the holding portions which is flat on a top of a slab.

FIG. 5A shows an anchor strap 100 according to the present invention with a body 102, bendable spaced-apart holding portions 114 a and 114 b, bendable spaced-apart arms 116, and holes 118 in the holding portions 114. The arms 114 a, 114 b are bendable so that a plate placed thereon (e.g. in certain aspects a 2″×6″ board—e.g. as the sole plate 55, FIG. 4) can be completely encompassed by the arms 114 a, 114 b. In one particular embodiments, using a 2″×6″ board as a sole plate, the arm 114 a is about 9″ long and the arm 114 b is about 4.5″ long. With the anchor strap 100 in place, after a concrete form is removed, the two arms 114 a, 114 b are initially extending horizontally toward the outside of the slab. The arm 114 a is then bent 180 degrees to point toward the inside of the slab and the arm 114 a is then flat on top of the slab. The plate is placed on top of the slab and covers 5.5″ of the arm 114 a. The remainder of the arm 114 a is then bent vertically, covering the 1.5″ inside of the plate. The remaining 2″ of the arm 114 a is then bent down onto the top of the plate and nailed or screwed in place. The arm 114 b is then bent to an upright vertical position and nailed or screwed to the plate's outside. The remainder of the arm 114 b—about 3″—is then bent onto the top of the plate and nailed or screwed in place with the plate essentially surrounded by the arms. Optionally, the arm is deleted and the remaining single arm is sufficiently long to permit securement to all sides of a sole plate or is sufficiently long to substantially encompass a sole plate.

FIG. 5B is a side view showing the anchor strap 100 held by a tack 105 to a concrete form 124 into which concrete for a slab is to be poured (to the right of the form in FIG. 5B). Dotted lines show the arms 116 separated from each other. A dotted line 111 shows a level to which concrete is to be poured into the form 124.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention thus offer advantages over the prior art and are well adapted to carry out one or more of the objects of the invention. However, the present invention does not require each of the components and actions described above. Any one or more of the above components, features and processes may be employed in any suitable configuration without inclusion of other such components, features and processes. Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and methods of operation. Additional features, capabilities, components, functions, methods, uses and applications may be included.

The methods described above and any other methods which may fall within the scope of any of the appended claims can be performed in any desired suitable order and are not necessarily limited to the sequence described herein or as may be listed in any of the appended claims. Moreover, the methods of the present invention do not require use of the particular components or embodiments shown and described in the present specification, but are equally applicable with any other suitable structure, form and configuration of components.

The present invention, therefore, provides in some, but not necessarily all, embodiments a method for securing a sole plate to a slab, the method including: securing an anchor strap to a form into which material is to be introduced to form a slab, the anchor strap comprising a first part and a second part, the first part opposed to the second part, a body, two bendable spaced-apart holding portions extending from the first part, the two holding portions and the body co-planar; positioning the anchor strap with respect to the form, a primary part of each holding portion at a level so that material poured into the form will be at substantially the same level as said primary parts; pouring the material into the form to make the slab; placing a member on the primary parts of the holding portions; bending parts of each holding portion other than the primary parts around the member so that the member is within the holding portions; and securing the member to the holding portions. Such a method may include one or some (in any possible combination) of the following: the anchor strap having at least one bendable arm extending from the second part in a direction opposite to a direction in which the two holding portions extend from the first part; the method further including positioning the anchor strap with respect to the form so that the at least one bendable arm is below a top level of the form, and bending the at least one arm at an angle to the body; wherein the at least one bendable arm is two bendable arms; wherein the holding portions are of sufficient extent to substantially encompass the sole plate; wherein the sole plate has four sides and the holding portions are of sufficient extent that all sides of the sole plate are in contact with at least a part of a holding portion; wherein the holding portions are of substantially the same length; wherein the holding portions are of different lengths; wherein the anchor strap is secured to the form with tape; wherein the anchor strap is secured to the form with at least one nail or tack; prior to hardening of the material in the form, smoothing the material with a smoothing apparatus, and moving the smoothing apparatus over the holding portions; wherein the smoothing apparatus is a hand trowel; wherein the smoothing apparatus is a trowelling machine; and/or wherein the anchor strap has a stop area for abutment against the form to facilitate proper emplacement of the anchor strap with respect to the form.

The present invention, therefore, provides in some, but not necessarily all, embodiments a method for securing a sole plate to a slab, the method including: securing an anchor strap to a form into which material is to be introduced to form a slab, the anchor strap comprising a first part and a second part, the first part opposed to the second part, a body, two bendable spaced-apart holding portions extending from the first part, the two holding portions and the body co-planar; positioning the anchor strap with respect to the form, a primary part of each holding portion is at a level so that material poured into the form will be at substantially the same level as said primary parts; pouring the material into the form to make the slab; placing a member on the primary parts of the holding portions; bending parts of each holding portion other than the primary parts around the member so that the member is within the holding portions; securing the member to the holding portions; the anchor strap having two bendable arms extending from the second part in a direction opposite to a direction in which the two holding portions extend from the first part; the method further including positioning the anchor strap with respect to the form so that the bendable arms are below a top level of the form; bending each of the bendable arms at an angle to the body; prior to hardening of the material in the form, smoothing the material with a smoothing apparatus; and moving the smoothing apparatus over the holding portions.

The present invention, therefore, provides in some, but not necessarily all, embodiments a method for securing a sole plate to a slab, the method including: securing an anchor strap to a form into which material is to be introduced to form a slab, the anchor strap comprising a first part and a second part, the first part opposed to the second part, a body, a holding portion extending from the first part, the holding portion and the body co-planar; positioning the anchor strap with respect to the form, a primary part of the holding portion is at a level so that material poured into the form will be at substantially the same level as said primary part; pouring the material into the form to make the slab; placing a member on the primary part of the holding portion; bending part of the holding portion other than the primary part around the member so that the member is within the holding portion and securable thereto. In such a method (or in any method according to the present invention) one (or two) holding portions can be bent before or after the poured material hardens. Such a method may include one or some (in any possible combination) of the following: wherein the holding portion is of sufficient extent to substantially encompass the member placed thereon; and/or wherein the member has four sides and the holding portion is of sufficient extent that all sides of the member are in contact with at least a part of the holding portion.

The present invention, therefore, provides in some, but not necessarily all, embodiments an anchor strap for securing a sole plate to a slab, the anchor strap including: a first part and a second part, the first part opposed to the second part; a body; at least one bendable holding portion extending from the first part, the holding portion and the body co-planar; a primary part of the holding portion at a level so that material poured into the form will be at substantially the same level as said primary part; part of the holding portion other than the primary part bendable around a member placed on the holding portion so that the member is locatable within the holding portion and securable thereto. Such an anchor strap may have one or some (in any possible combination) of the following: at least one bendable arm extending from the second part in a direction opposite to a direction in which the holding portion extends from the first part; the anchor strap positionable with respect to the form so that the at least one bendable arm is below a top level of the form; and the at least one arm bendable at an angle to the body; and/or wherein the at least one bendable arm is two bendable arms.

Accordingly, while preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, many variations, modifications and/or changes of the system, apparatus and methods of the present invention, such as in the components, details of construction and operation, arrangement of parts and/or methods of use, are possible, contemplated by the patentee, within the scope of the appended claims, and may be made and used by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit or teachings of the invention and scope of appended claims. Thus, all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting, and the scope of the invention and the appended claims is not limited to the embodiments described and shown herein.

In conclusion, therefore, it is seen that the present invention and the embodiments disclosed herein and those covered by the appended claims are well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends set forth. Certain changes can be made in the subject matter without departing from the spirit and the scope of this invention. It is realized that changes are possible within the scope of this invention and it is further intended that each element or step recited in any of the following claims is to be understood as referring to the step literally and/or to all equivalent elements or steps. The following claims are intended to cover the invention as broadly as legally possible in whatever form it may be utilized. The invention claimed herein is new and novel in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 102 and satisfies the conditions for patentability in § 102. The invention claimed herein is not obvious in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 103 and satisfies the conditions for patentability in § 103. This specification and the claims that follow are in accordance with all of the requirements of 35 U.S.C. § 112. The inventors may rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the scope of their invention and of the claims that follow as they may pertain to apparatus not materially departing from, but outside of, the literal scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. All patents and applications identified herein are incorporated fully herein for all purposes. 

1. A method for securing a sole plate to a slab, the method comprising securing an anchor strap to a form into which material is to be introduced to form a slab, the anchor strap comprising a first part and a second part, the first part opposed to the second part, a body, two bendable spaced-apart holding portions extending from the first part, the two holding portions and the body co-planar; positioning the anchor strap with respect to the form, a primary part of each holding portion at a level so that material poured into the form will be at substantially the same level as said primary parts; pouring the material into the form to make the slab; placing a member on the primary parts of the holding portions; bending parts of each holding portion other than the primary parts around the member so that the member is within the holding portions; and securing the member to the holding portions.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the anchor strap further comprising at least one bendable arm extending from the second part in a direction opposite to a direction in which the two holding portions extend from the first part; the method further comprising positioning the anchor strap with respect to the form so that the at least one bendable arm is below a top level of the form; and bending the at least one arm at an angle to the body.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one bendable arm is two bendable arms.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the holding portions are of sufficient extent to substantially encompass the sole plate.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the sole plate has four sides and the holding portions are of sufficient extent that all sides of the sole plate are in contact with at least a part of a holding portion.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the holding portions are of substantially the same length.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the holding portions are of different lengths.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the anchor strap is secured to the form with tape.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the anchor strap is secured to the form with at least one nail or tack.
 10. the method of claim 1 further comprising prior to hardening of the material in the form, smoothing the material with a smoothing apparatus; and moving the smoothing apparatus over the holding portions.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the smoothing apparatus is a hand trowel.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein the smoothing apparatus is a trowelling machine.
 13. The method of claim 1 wherein the anchor strap has a stop area for abutment against the form to facilitate proper emplacement of the anchor strap with respect to the form.
 14. A method for securing a sole plate to a slab, the method comprising securing an anchor strap to a form into which material is to be introduced to form a slab, the anchor strap comprising a first part and a second part, the first part opposed to the second part, a body, two bendable spaced-apart holding portions extending from the first part, the two holding portions and the body co-planar; positioning the anchor strap with respect to the form, a primary part of each holding portion is at a level so that material poured into the form will be at substantially the same level as said primary parts; pouring the material into the form to make the slab; placing a member on the primary parts of the holding portions; bending parts of each holding portion other than the primary parts around the member so that the member is within the holding portions; securing the member to the holding portions; the anchor strap further comprising two bendable arms extending from the second part in a direction opposite to a direction in which the two holding portions extend from the first part; the method further comprising positioning the anchor strap with respect to the form so that the bendable arms are below a top level of the form; bending each of the bendable arms at an angle to the body; prior to hardening of the material in the form, smoothing the material with a smoothing apparatus; and moving the smoothing apparatus over the holding portions.
 15. A method for securing a sole plate to a slab, the method comprising securing an anchor strap to a form into which material is to be introduced to form a slab, the anchor strap comprising a first part and a second part, the first part opposed to the second part, a body, a holding portion extending from the first part, the holding portion and the body co-planar; positioning the anchor strap with respect to the form, a primary part of the holding portion is at a level so that material poured into the form will be at substantially the same level as said primary part; pouring the material into the form to make the slab; placing a member on the primary part of the holding portion; bending part of the holding portion other than the primary part around the member so that the member is within the holding portion and securable thereto.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the holding portion is of sufficient extent to substantially encompass the member placed thereon.
 17. The method of claim 15 wherein the member has four sides and the holding portion is of sufficient extent that all sides of the member are in contact with at least a part of the holding portion.
 18. An anchor strap for securing a sole plate to a slab, the anchor strap comprising a first part and a second part, the first part opposed to the second part; a body; at least one bendable holding portion extending from the first part, the holding portion and the body co-planar; a primary part of the holding portion at a level so that material poured into the form will be at substantially the same level as said primary part; and part of the holding portion other than the primary part bendable around a member placed on the holding portion so that the member is locatable within the holding portion and securable thereto.
 19. The anchor strap of claim 18 further comprising at least one bendable arm extending from the second part in a direction opposite to a direction in which the holding portion extends from the first part; the anchor strap positionable with respect to the form so that the at least one bendable arm is below a top level of the form; and the at least one arm bendable at an angle to the body.
 20. The anchor strap of claim 19 wherein the at least one bendable arm is two bendable arms. 